USC Postgame

[NDohio]

Part II

6) As someone who became a Notre Dame fan in the mid-2000s, the idea of this sort of run against Southern Cal felt unfathomable. Immensely happy and proud of what this team accomplished on Saturday and in the preceding three months. It wasn’t the most imposing schedule but it was damn fine football for the majority of the season capped with a gutsy road win against a talented opponent when all the pressure was on one side. (I really adore how much the players have embraced the importance of this matchup even though it can be hard to maintain the strange exhilaration in such total detestation when you’ve won six of the last seven.) With a host of wonderful players seeing their eligibility expire soon and a tricky 2025 schedule, it was important for Marcus Freeman to secure his imprimatur season now. Mission accomplished.

I’m still processing how I feel about the playoff and how it should factor into the evaluation of this season. We need to see what the bracket looks like but no one in the field is a juggernaut and it’s perfectly acceptable to believe (expect?) Notre Dame could make a run. But considering all the horses the Fighting Irish are down (assuming/hoping Cross will be healed by the next game, but unsure on Love and KVA, plus the extended break doesn’t help with Morrison, Botelho, Traore and Craig) I am trying to keep my expectations modest.

I certainly don’t want a home defeat but if it’s a back-and-forth affair and the bounces are unkind it would be heartbreaking but the rules of the game require a loser. If the team no shows (seems unlikely) or there are catastrophic in-game decisions (possible, but would be against trend) that would be a different discussion. It’s fun (?) we get to feel a very high level of stress at least one more time. It’s going to be a scene that Freeman and his program scrapped, clawed and fought to earn.

 

[calvegas04]

 

[SWirishfan]

That picture just reminds me of something....

In dramatic lore, their names are Death, Destruction, Pestilence, and Famine. But those are just aliases.
They revealed themselves in the 21st century as Moore, Gray, Kiser, and Hinish....

 

[KPENN]

 

[jprue24]

Yeah but who is PFF’s graders? Could be BVG for all I know or Driskell.

Reaper would have already told us if it was Driskell.

I don't care who the PFF guys are.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

How can you not want to play all out and win for MF as a coach. He is Him.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

The fuck kind of visitor locker room is that?
They put us in the broom closet!

 

[irishff1014]

How can you not want to play all out and win for MF as a coach. He is Him.

He is definitely their biggest supporter. You can tell he loves those dudes.

“Everybody’s role is as important as anyone’s role”

That’s one hell of a quote.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Does anyone have a link to the radio call of Gray’s pick they played during the tv broadcast? Thought it was epic but can’t find it anywhere.

 

[Irishdawg]

The fuck kind of visitor locker room is that?
The put us in the broom closet!

Ha, it reminded me of what the old Celtics visitor locker room was in the 60s-70s. Nails on the wall and a long bench, with cold showers. lol

 

[thekid33]

CBS Sports is showing a replay of the game. I turned it on just in time for the Gray Pick Six.

I record every game, so this won't be the last time I watch the last four minutes of that game. Regardless of what's to come, the end of that game was beautiful enough that it could get me through a cold winter.

FUsc

☘️

 

[ozzman]

Clinic by the o-line. Glad to see Rocco step in with a good game

 

[Huntr]

Per Sampson:

While sources close to the program were concerned about Love’s injury status immediately after the USC game following a third-quarter injury, it appears Notre Dame’s star running back emerged from an MRI without major damage. Love might be sore, but he’s also expected to play in the College Football Playoff later this month. For how good Jadarian Price has been as RB2, Love is a get-out-jail-free card that Notre Dame’s offense needs.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

could be the USC QB

 

[IRISHDODGER]

could be the USC QB

That would make a great t-shirt

 

[Irish#1]

Clinic by the o-line. Glad to see Rocco step in with a good game

Like the rest of the line, Rocco has really improved over the course of the season.

 

[Pete]

 

[ab2cmiller]

Good job from Shuler. But the "grown man play" was Sneed taking on the pulling guard with a head of steam and still making the tackle.